Internal-combustion-engine construction



Apil 14, 1931. v MR. l.. AsKlNNrsr-e 1,800,479

INTERNAL CMBUSTION ENGINEl CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 6, 1929 l5Sheets-Sheet l rfa To .ewa/N5 Til-65*- R. L. SKINNER INTERNAL COMBUSTTONENGINE CONSTRUCTION April 14, 1931.

FiledFeb. 6, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 v l! 655g um M y mw v Patented Apr.14, 1931 UNITED STATES F DETROIT, MICHIGAN INTEBNAL-COHBUSTION-ENGINECONSTRUCTION Application led February 8, 1929. Serial No. 337,778.

My invention concerns engines or motors of the internal-combustion typeand relates more particularly to engines of this character havingsliding valves.

To enable those acquainted with this art to fully understand theinvention, in the accompan ing drawings, forming a part of this specication, I have illustrated a present and desirable embodiment of theinvention, like reference characters being employed throughout theseveral views to designate the same parts of the mechanism.

In these drawings: Figure 1 is aY vertical section through one cylinderof a multi-cylinder engine on line 1-1 of Figure 2;

Figure 2 is an enlarged horizontal section on line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Fi Aure 3 is a similar section on line 3-3 2 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section showing certaindetails of the` structure;

Figure 5 is al perspective view of the inside of one of the sliding`valves; and

Figure 6 is an outside perspective view of the same valve.

Referring to these drawings, it will be clear that the illustratedembodiment of the invention comprises outer, water-jacketed or otherappropriately-cooled cylinders 11, of which only one is shown in thedrawing, mounted in the usual way on the top of the crank-case 12, whichhouses the supply of lubricant for oiling the various elements of p the'mechanism, such cylinder having inlet and exhaust ports 13, and 14,respectively.

Within and spaced inwardly away from and concentric with such outercylinder is 4 another, thin, stationary cylinder 15 supported solelyfrom its lower end in any approved fashion as by means of suitablefastening screws 16, 16 attaching i-t to supports integral with anddepending from the block of outer cylinders.

The top end 17 of such inner cylinder comprises a flat or plane surfacedlsposed below the cylinder-ports and at right-angles to its axis,whereby it is unnecessary to supply such cylinder with ports an asuitable top surface is afforded on which the expansion sealing-ringhereinafter mentioned may bear and work to advantage.

As is clearly illustrated, the outer cylinder is fitted with awater-cooled head 18 extending down into the cylinder a substantialdistance, in fact down ractically to the outer cylinder ports, suc headbeing equipped with the usual sparkplug 19.

As will be apparent, that portion of the head 18 pro'ecting into theouter cylinder 11 is of slig tly less diameter than the internal caliberof the cylinder, thereby affording between them a shallow, annular spacein register with and of the same thickness as the somewhat similar spacebetween the two, separated cylinders.

The inner cylinder accommodates the usual recirocatory piston 21 joinedto the cranksha not shown, by the customary connecting-rod 22, thealigned, circular spaces between the c linders and between the outercylinder an the cylinder-head receiving a pair of transversely-curved orarcuate, ported valves 23 and 24, respectively, theA part 23 having aninlet-port 25 therethrough and the companion part 24 having acorresponding exhaust-port 26 through it.

Valve 23 extends slightly more than 180 around the inner cylinder andthe correlated member 24 is correspondingly less than 180 in order thatthe part 23 may desirably have an inlet-port 25 of greater area orlength transversely of the valve than the exhaustort 26.

Suitably rotated crank-shafts 27 and 28 and associated cranks 29 and 31reciprocate the air of ported valves in roper timed relatlon tocorrectly control t e admission of the fuel mixture into the cylinderand the discharge of the hot exploded or exhaust gases.

A comparatively-wide split spring exorted sealing-ring 32, has a Hatottom edge surface 33, at rightang es to its axis, bearing on the topend surface 17 of the inner cylinder, so that the ring is free to expandand to contract, the ring having a at, overlapping slip joint pansibleor lane 34 (Figure 2) at its split, so that although cylinder, valve,and ring exhaust ports areY provided with registering bridges 37, 38,39, respectively, across such ports.

In some instances, it may be convenient to omit any one or more of suchbridges, or to employ more if they seem desirable.

To hold the ring in this position, thereby preventing its turning aboutits axis, and at .the same time not interfering with its expansion, thestationary pin 41 fixed and radially mounted in the cylinder-head 18opposite the joint 34 projects into a slight cavity 42 on the-inner sideof the ring.

Ring 32 has an inlet-port 43 of slightly less depth or verticaldimension than the corresponding cylinder-port 13, the lower margins ofthe two ports being on the same level or in register to assure that anyliquid fuel that might be present at the port 13 will find easy accessthrough the ring-port into the cylinder, the larger area of thecylinder-port insuring a free, full and substantially-unrestrained flowof explosive gaseous mixture through the ring-port when the latter isopened by the corresponding valveport 25.

At its opposite side, the ring has an exhaust-port 44 somewhat less inwidth than the associated cylinder-port 14 so that the edges or marginsof the latter are sufficiently removed to permit a ready and easy escapeof the gases as they pass throughl the ringport 44 and the valve-port26, or, in other words, the cylinder-porty being wider than thecompanion ring and valve ports in nok way retards or restricts the iowof the exhausting gases and prevents undue heating of its margins.

Under these circumstances, it will be apparent that the valve-portscontrol the inow of explosive mixture and the discharge of the burnedgases b direct cooperation with the rin -ports rat er than by coactionwith the wid r cylinder-ports, the ring by its normal tendenc to expand,advantageously Supplemente at more or less regular intervals by the gaspressure in the cylinder, pressing the arcuate valves outwardly againstthe inner surface of the outer cylinder, thus maintaining apressure-tight relation between them and at the same time effecting alike relation directly between .itself and the valves, hence holding theelements involved in such a way as to preclude leaka e from thecombustion-chamber in the cylin er.

Ashown in Fi To prevent leaking between the ported ring 32 and the innerc linder 15, a rubber, or other suitable, resilient ring 45 is employedbearing on a shoulder 46 of the cylinder-head and such part 45 iscontained within a metal ring 47 of right-angle or any other appro riatecross-section and having a smooth, at, under surface 48 at rightanglesto its axis bearing o'n the smooth, top, edge surface 49 of, and atright-angles to, the axis of the ported ring 32.

When the cylinder-head is fastened in position, a sufficient pressure isexerted thereby on the rubber-ring to keep the required amount ofpressure between the parts 47, 32 and 15 to insure substantiallypressure-tight relations between the three specified elements, butwithout preventin the ported ring from exerting its outwar pressure onthe sliding valves, .as stated above, and from automatically expandingto take up wear as occasion may require.

It is necessary to lubricate the sliding valves efficiently, but it is.also important to withdraw or remove the excess oil on their surfaces toprevent it from entering the ports or combustion chamber and beinguselessly burned, causing a formation of carbon tending to foul thespark-plugs and developing a highly objectionable smoking of theexhaust.

The lower ends of the valves are supplied with oil from the crank-caseby the usual splash method and such oil naturally travels up the valvesdue to capillary attraction and to the movements of the valvesthemselves.

A plurality of transverse oil-carrying or. distributing grooves 51, 51are rovided on the lower portion of the outer ace of each of the valvesand each such channel has a number of holes 52, 52 through the valve tocarry oil to the inner surface of the latter.

Above such distributing grooves 51, 51, each valve on its exteriorsurface has another set of transverse, oil-collecting grooves 53, 53connected together by an oil-Well 54 formed as 'a channel cutlongitudinallyv in the outer face of the valve and extending len hwisethe latter beyond the uppermost an lowermost grooves 53.

A hole 5.5 through the valve connects the upper end of well or channel54 with the central portion of a transverse, oil-groove 56 in the innersurface of the valve just below its divided port, inlet or exhaust asthe case may be, suc groove-56 by means of smaller extensions 57, 57,reaching to the opposite lengthwise edges of the valve, the meetinglongitudinal margins of the two valves bein register with the materialof the outer c inder and of the sealing-ring between t eir admission anddischarge ports, as

.It should be noted 'that groove 56 is so located that during the ascentof the valve it passes up on to the ported, sealing-ring but not up toits port.

Each side of the cylinder 11, in register with the valve well or channel54, is supplied with a port 58 connected to a conduit 59 joined to asource of suction, such as that existing in the engine intake-manifold,which withdraws more or less of the contents of the well 54, grooves 53,grooves 56, 57 and the spaces between the edges vof the valves.

Such withdrawn excess lubricant is automatically reclaimed or rectifiedby means known in the art and returned to the oil supply in thecrank-case, the vaporized fuel and water and air passing into theintake-manifold to become mixed with and to form a part of the explosivemixture of the engine.

Above the port, the outer face of each valve may have any convenient oretlicient arrangement of grooves 158 to produce an even distribution ofthat ortion of the oil which reaches such part o the valve.

It is to be noted that, by withdrawingor abstracting all or a portion ofthe contents of the grooves on both sides of the valve just below theport, an eilicient lubrication of the valve andthe parts on which itslides is allowed with a suitable prevention of any substantial quantityof the excess finding access to the ports or between the valves andcylinders into the combustion chamber or manifolds.

From the foregoing, it will be clear how the valves are lubricated withelimination of the excess oil .and how their ports cooperate with thoseof the sealing-ring, also the manner in which the latter functions andis capable of expansion to perform its work satisfactorily without unduefriction retardin its enlarging properties.

he invention is not limited and restricted to the precise and exactdetails of structure shown and described and more or less radicalchanges may be incorporated in the appliance without departure from theheart and essence of the invention as defined by the appended claims andwithout the sacrifice or loss of any of its material benefits andadvantages.

1. In an internal-combustion engine, the combination of an outercylinder having inl'et and exhaust ports, an inner cylinder inside ofand spaced inwardly away from said outer cylinder, a pair Lof arcuatevalves slidable between and lengthwise of said cylinders, means toreciprocate said valves, a head for said outer cylinder, an expansiblesealing-ring having inlet and exhaust ports registering substantiallywith the corresponding cylinder-ports pressing outwardly against saidvalves and bearing endwise on said inner cylinder, and resilient meansbetween said head and said ring pressing the latter on its bearing onsaid inner cylinder.

said cylinders, means to reciprocate said valves, a cylinder-head, anexpansible sealing-ring having inlet and exhaust ports registeringsubstantially with the corresponding cylinder-ports pressing outwardlyagainst said valves, said sealing-ring having top and bottom faces atright-angles to its axis with its bottom face bearing'on the top surfaceA of said inner c linder, and resilient means between said cy 'nder-headand the top face of said sealing-ring holding the latter on its bearingon such inner cylinder.

3. In an internal-combustion engine, the combination of an outercylinder having -inlet and exhaust ports, an inner cylinder inside ofand spaced inwardly away from said outer cylinder and having a top flatsurface at right angles to its axis, a pair of arcuate valves slidablebetween and lengthwise of 'said cylinders, means to reciprocate saidvalves, a cylinder-head, an expansible sealing-ring having inlet andexhaust ports refristering substantially with the correspon ingcylinder-ports pressing outwardly against said valves, said sealing-ringhaving top and bottom faces at right-angles to its axis with its bottomface bearing on the top surface of said inner cylinder, and resilientmeans between said cylinder-head and the top face of said sealing-rinholding the latter on its .bearing on such lnner cyllnder,

one at least of said sealing-rin ports being of less dimension parallelto lts axis than the corresponding dimension of the correlatedcylinder-port.

4. In an internal-combustion engine, the combination of an outercylinder having inlet and exhaust ports, an inner cylinder insideof andspaced inwardly awayv from said outer cylinder and having a top flatsurface at right angles to its axis, a pair of arcuate valves slidablebetween and lengthwise of said cylinders, means to reciprocate saidvalves, a cylinder-head, an expansible sealing-ring having inlet andexhaust ports registering substantially with the correspondingcylinder-ports ressing outwardly against said valves, said) sealing-ringhaving top and bottom faces at right-angles to its axis with its bottomface bearing on the top surface of said inner cylinder, and resilientmeans between said cylinder-head'and the top face of said sealing-ringholding the latter on its bearing on such inner cylinder,

said sealing-ring ports being of less dimensions parallel to its axisthan the corresponding dimensions of said c lmder-ports.

5. In an internal-com ustion engine, thecombination of an outer portedcylinder, an

inner cylinder inside of and spaced inwardly away from said outercylinder, a cylinder-head for said outer. cylinder, a portedsealing-ring above said inner cylinder with its ports in substantial reister with said outer cylinder-ports, a pair of inlet and exhaust portedarcuate sliding valves reciprocating lengthwise of and between saidcylinders, said valves unitedly extending substantially completelyaround said inner cylinder with said inlet valve of greater arcuatewidth than said exhaust valve, and means to reciprocate said valves.

6. In an internal-combustion engine, the combination of an outercylinder having inlet and exhaust ports, an inner cylinder inside of andspaced inwardly away from said outer cylinder and terminating below saidouter cylinder ports, a cylinder-head for said outer cylinder, anexpansible sealingring between said cylinder-head and the upper end ofsaid inner cylinder and having i inlet and exhaust ports in substantialregister with but smaller in width than said corresponding outercylinder-ports, ported reciprocatory valves between said ring and innercylinder and said outer cylinder, and means to reciprocate said valves.

7. In an internal-combustion engine, the combination of an outercylinder having inlet and exhaust ports, an inner cylinder inside of andspaced inwardly away from said outer cylinder, a pairof ported arcuatevalves slidable between and lengthwise of said cylinders, means toreciprocate said valves, said inner cylinder being su ported from belowand having an upper e ge surface below said cylinder-ports and atrightangles to the axis of said cylinder, a head for said outercylinder, a split expansible ring having inlet and exhaust ports insubstantial register with the corresponding cylinderports pressingoutwardly against the inner surfaces of said valves and having a flatlower edge surface at right-angles to its axis and bearin on the upperedge surface of said inner cy inder, a resilient ring bearing on saidhead, and a metal ring interposed between said resilient ring and thetop edge surface of said ported ring maintaining the latter in firmengagement with the top edge surface of said inner cylinder, thecontacting surfaces between said metal and expansible rings being atright-angles to their axis.

8. In an internal-combustion engine, the combination of a ported outercylinder, an inner cylinder inside of and spaced inwardly away from saidouter cylinder, a cylinder-head for said outer cylinder, a portedexpansible sealing-ring between said cylinder-head and the upper end ofsaid inner cylinder, an arcuate ported valve reciprocatory between saidring and inner cylinder and said outer cylinder, and a transverseoilgroove on the lnner surface of said valve located to register withsaid ring below the port of the latter when the valve 1s 1n ltsuppermost position, means to supply lubr1cant to said valve, and meansto reciprocate sald valve.

9. In an internal-combustion engine, the combination of a ported outercylinder, an inner c linder inside of and spaced inwardly away rom saidouter'c linder, a cylinderhead for said outer-cyllnder, a portedexpansible sealing-ring between said cylinderhead and the upper end 'ofsaid inner cylinder, an arcuate ported valve reciprocatory between saidring and inner cylinder and said outer cylin er, and a transverseoilgroove on the inner surface of said valve located to register withsaid ring below the port of the latter when the valve is in itsuppermost position, means to supply lubricant to said valvemeans towithdraw fluids from said valve-groove to prevent the excess lubricantfrom reaching said sealing-ring port, and means to reciprocate saidvalve.

10. In an internal-combustion engine, the combination of a cylinderhaving inlet and exhaust ports, ported arcuatevalves slidable lengthwiseof and inside of said cylinder, means to reciprocate said valves, anexpanspible sealing-ring inside of said valves having inlet and exhaustports in substantial register with the corresponding cylinder, ports andopened and closed by said valves, and means to maintain saidsealing-ring in position, whereby the pressure in said cylinder pressessaid ring avainst said valves and the latter against the cy inder wall.

11. In an internal-combustion engine, the combination of a cylinderhaving inlet and exhaust ports, arcuate valves slidable inside andlengthwise of said cylinder, said valves having ports at least theadmission one of which is bridged, said valves unitedly forming acomplete divided cylinder, means to reciprocate said valves, anexpansible sealing-ring having inlet and exhaust ports in substantialreglster with the corresponding cylinder ports, said ring being splitwith an overlappin 'joint in substantial register with said bri ge ofsaid inlet valve port, and means to maintain said sealing-ring inposition, whereby thepressure in said cylinder presses said ring againstsaid valves and the latter against the cylinder wall.

12. In an internal-combustion engine, the combination of an outercylinder having inlet and exhaust ports, an inner cylinder inside of andspaced inwardly from said cylinder, means to lubricate said valves, saidvalves having lubricant-collecting grooves,

and means to withdraw the excess lubricant from said grooves below andin substantial longitudinal alinement with said `cylinder orts, p 13. Inan internal-combustion engine, the combination of an outer cylinderhaving in-l let and exhaust ports, an inner cylinder inside of andspaced inwardly away from said outer cylinder, arcuate valves slidablebetween said cylinders, means to reciprocate said valves, a portedexpansible sealing-ring cooperating with said inner cylinder and havingits ports in substantial register with the corresponding ports of saidouter cylinder, said sealing-ring bearing on the inner surfaces of saidvalves, means to lubricate said valves said valves having communicatinglubrlcant-collecting grooves on their outer and inner surfaces, andmeans to withdraw the excess lubricant from both sets of grooves belowand in substantial longitudinal alignment with said cylinderorts. P 14.In an internal-combustion engine, the combination of an outer cylinderhaving inlet and exhaust ports, a head .for said cylinder, a secondcylinder inside of, concentric with and spaced inwardly away from saidouter cylinder, arcuate valves between and slidable lengthwise of saidcylinders, means to reciprocate said valves, an expansible sealing-ringinside of and bearing against said valves and having ports therethroughin substantial register with said cylinder ports, means to seal saidsealing-ring with said inner cylinder and cylinder-head to avoidpressure leakage therebetween while allowing expansion of saidsealing-ring against said valves, a piston reciprocatory in said innercylinder and a connecting-rod joined to said piston and adapted to beconnected to a crank-shaft.

15. In an internal-combustion engine, the.

combination of an outer cylinder having inlet and exhaust ports, aninner cylinder inside of and spaced inwardly away from said outercylinder, arcuate valves slidable between said cylinders and adapted toopen and close said outer cylinder ports, means to reci rocate saidvalves, means to lubricate sai valves, one at least of said valveshaving a lubricant-collecting groove, and means to withdraw excesslubricant from said groove below and in substantial longitudinalalinement with the cylinder-port controlled by such valve.

16. In an internal-combustion engine, the combination of an outercylinder having inlet and exhaust ports, an inner cylinder inside of andspaced inwardly from said outer cylinder, arcuate valves slidablebetween said cylinders to openand close said outer cylinder-ports, meansto reciprocate said valves, means to lubricate said valves, said valveshaving lubricant-collecting grooves, and means to withdraw excesslubricant from the grooves of both valves below' and in substantiallongitudinal alinement with 's'aidc linder ports. v

17. n an internal-combustion engine, the combination of an outercylinder having inlet and exhaust ports, an inner cylinder inside of,concentric with and spaced inwardly away from said outer cylinder, apair of arcuate valves slidable between and lengthwise of saidcylinders, means to re-` ciprocate said valves, an expansiblesealingring having inlet and exhaust ports registering substantiallywith the corresponding cylinder ports and pressing outwardly againstsaid valves and bearing on said inner cylinder and means to press saidsealing-rmg and inner cylinder together relatively lengthwise to reventpressure leakage therebetween while allowing expansion of saidsealing-ring against said valves, a piston reciprocatory in said inner clinder, and a connecting-rod joined to sai piston and adapted forconnection to a crankshaft.

18. In an internal-combustion engine, the combination of an outercylinder having inlet and exhaust ports, a cylinder inside of saidlouter cylinder, concentric therewith and spaced inwardly therefrom, apiston reciprocatory in said inner cylinder, channeled arcuate valvesslidable between and lengthwise of said inner and outer cylinders angoverning the opening and closing of said outer cylinder ports, means toreciprocate said valves, means to supply lubricant to said valves, meansto seal the gas pressure in said cylinders and means to remove excesslubricant from and collected in said valve channels.

19. In an internal-combustion engine, the combination of an outercylinder having inlet and exhaust ports, a cylinder inside of,concentric with, and spaced inwardly away from, said outer cylinder, apiston reciprocatory in said inner cylinder, arcuate valves slidablebetween and lengthwlse of said inner and outer cylinders and governingthe opening and closino` of said outer cylinder ports, one at least oiDsaid valves being channeled, means to reciprocate said valves, means tosuppl lubricant to said valves, means to seal t e gas pressuresl in saidcylinders, and means to remove excess lubricant from and collected inthe channel of at least one of said valves.

20. In an internal-combustion engine, the combination of an outercylinder having inlet and exhaust ports, a head for said cylinder, asecond cylinder inside of, concentric with, and spaced inwardly awayfrom, said outer cylinder, arcuate valves controlling said ports betweenand slidable lengthwise said cylin sure leakage at the to of saidcylinders, means to reciprocate said valves, an expansible sealing-rlng.bearing on said inner cylinder and pressing outwardly against saidvalves and having ports therethrough in substantial register wither-ports, means to prevent presand bottom ends of said sealing-ring whie allowing expansion of said sealing-ring against said valves, a pistonreciprocatory in said inner cylinder, and a connecting-rod joined tosaid piston and adapted for connection to a crankshaft.

21. In `an internal-combustion engine, the combination of an outercylinder having inlet and exhaust ports, an inner cylinder spacedinwardly away from said outer cylinder, a sliding piston in said innercylinder, a connecting-rod joined to said piston, a pair oftransversely-curved inlet and exhaust valves between and slidablelengthwise of said cylinders, means to reciprocate said valves, means toseal the gas pressures in said cylinders including a stationarylongitudinally-split expansible sealing-ring bearing edgewise on saidinner cylinder and pressing outwardly against said' valves and avinginlet and exhaust ports therethrough in substantial register with saidcylinderports, the joint at the split of said ring being out of registerwith the ring ports and comprising outer and inner overlapping tonguesadapted to be forced together by the pressures in said cylinders, saidsealing-ring being an independent unit capable of substantially-uniformexpansion andl contraction throughout its circumference.

22. The combination of an outer cylinder having inlet and'exhaust ports,an inner cylinder inside of, spaced inwardly away from, and having itsupper end lower than said ports of said outer cylinder, a pair of valvesbetween and slidable lengthwise of said cylinders, means to reciprocatesaid valves, a head for said outer cylinder, an expansible sealing-ringhaving inlet and exhaust ports registering substantially with thecorresponding cylinder-ports pressing outwardly against said valves andbearing endwise on said inner cylinder, means to seal said sealing-ringwith said inner cylinder and with said cylinder-head to prevent gaspressure leakage therebetween while allowing expansion of saidsealing-ring against said valves, a piston reciprocating in said innercylinder, a shaft, and means tpl cnnect said piston operatively withsaid s a 23. The combination of an outer cylinder having inlet andexhaust ports, an inner cylinder inside of, and spaced inwardly awayfrom, said outer' cylinder, a pair of valves between and slidablelengthwise of said cylinders, means to reciprocate said valves, a headfor said outer cylinder, an expansible m hand. n y RALPH L. SKINN ER.

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